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Tiger Cruises

One of the true joys of returning from sea from a long deployment is to have a loved one join you on a short transit home to see what Dad, Mom, Aunt or Uncle does in the Navy. This post will be co-written by me and the NHF director of Events, Mr. Sam Hall, whose “Dadmiral” is Rear Admiral Garry Hall, USN (Ret.).

A “Tiger” is almost always a family member who is invited by a Sailor to sail with them from the final port of call on a long deployment to homeport. The Navy describes the purpose of a Tiger Cruise officially in the following way:

www.rso.navy.mil/chaps/tigercruise/tigercruise.htm

“The occasional embarkation of family members of naval personnel is intended to contribute to good morale and instill in servicemembers a sense of pride in the Navy and their ships. It also enhances public understanding of the Navy and increases community awareness.”

“Operation Tiger Cruise is the unclassified code name for a very special guest cruise program that includes two or more consecutive days underway. The primary purpose of a Tiger Cruise is for servicemembers to acquaint their family members with their ship and their shipboard duties.”

Sam Hall will jump in shortly to represent the Tiger perspective, but I wanted to share how great it was to have my step-father join me on four different Tiger cruises aboard the USS Paul F. Foster (DD 964)—twice—and once each on the USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) and USS Shiloh (CG 67).

My step-father Capt. Joseph E. Gould, USN (Ret.), was a USNA grad (class of ’43, but graduated in June of ’42) and was a Diesel submariner (WWII), Surface Warrior (Korea) and Naval Intelligence (Vietnam) officer. He had five afloat commands in his nearly 30-year career and knew a thing or two about my business. As a Navigator, he joined me for shooting morning and evening stars, actually shooting stars and reducing them to determine our position. These are not easy skills to master and imagine my intimidation that he did this 8 years after retirement. He added to my misery, I mean, professional development, when he encouraged me to obtain a 1000 (10 AM) sun line each morning so we could obtain a running fix from a local apparent noon calculation. At lunch in the wardroom, a young Sailor entered and presented to the Captain our twelve o’clock reports… “Sir the Officer of the Deck sends his respects and reports the approaching hour of 1200. All chronometers have been wound and compared and we have position fixes from a sunline/local apparent noon, SATNAV, Loran and Omega.” “Very well”, said Capt. Lee Kaiss. Our Commodore, Capt. John J. Gelke, was a Kings Point mariner of great navigational and engineering accomplishment as well.  Together they were apoplectic that our Nav-team was so accomplished, forward leaning and on top of the game. “Wow, Petty Officer Gallup (the leading Quartermaster) is really raising the bar these days, isn’t he?” opined the Old Man. The Commodore jumped into the conversation and brought the credit where it belonged—to my stepfather. This is when the Commodore metaphorically became my step-dad’s “bestie” and they shot stars together for the final four days of our deployment. My Quartermasters were elated as the small and always nearly empty chart room was jammed with two Captains, a Lieutenant, and the occasional Junior Officer needing some Personnel Qualification Standard signed off in what was supposed to be a chill and retiring ride home in an empty chartroom.

Sam—Over to you—

Thank you, Admiral—Sam here. As a young Navy kid, I never really knew that much about my dad’s work. His time on shore duty felt like he was at any other job with long hours a mom or dad might’ve had. My family and I said farewell and welcomed him back many times on different piers and hangars or he’d surprise me and my siblings and break us out of school, but I never really knew what his life was like on the boat. In late July of 1998, my perception of all of that changed as a young Tiger with my older brother, Garry. We met my dad in Pearl Harbor as the USS Tarawa (LHA 1), the Eagle of the Sea, returned from the Arabian Peninsula, Persian Gulf, and different ports of Africa and the Pacific. I was lucky that year—I just made the age cut of 8 years old merely a month before the cruise.

Twenty-one years later, there’s still so much from that Tiger Cruise that I carry with me. I still feel giddy as I tell friends and colleagues of the rumble and boom of an M242 firing off into the distance with eyes fixed on the glow of tracers turning into splashes. The sound of ocean waves lapping into the immense well deck is still vivid in my mind. As a little guy then, I didn’t shoot much, but being on the Marine’s indoor range might’ve put a little hair on my chest. Whether it was sharing lunch with the crew and other Tigers or watching the awe-inspiring skill and tact of flight ops, I loved being on the flight deck most of all. 

In all honesty, being a Navy kid was tough at times. When a parent is on a deployment, it can feel like a lifetime. But being a lucky, young Tiger sailing home with Dad, seeing what he did day-to-day, and meeting the amazing men and women he served with—Those are memories I wouldn’t trade for the world.

Back to over to you, Sonny—

I have many more Tiger memories. One of my executive officer’s, Bob Williams, son Robbie was a whirling dirvish of activitiy and rowdiness—and went on to become Commanding Officer of Seal Team 3.  Then-Lieutenant Bill Keating’s Uncle John Ahern “tigered” with us many times and had his own seat in the Goat Locker (Chief Petty Officers’ Mess) complete with his own coffee mug. Then-Lieutenant Paul Schultz’ father, Paul Sr., came aboard with his Korean-War vintage DBF Dolphins (Diesel Boats Forever) and the best array of off-color sea stories ever told on a sailing vessel of any era.

What are your Tiger cruise memories either as a Tiger or host of a Tiger? What activities were most memorable? How did you or your parents fund the trip in tight budget situations? What did you learn about your Sailor Dad or Mom that you didn’t know before? How had your young son or daughter matured over the previous six to eight months that surprised you?

Wherever I find a Navy family, the Tiger cruise always comes up in conversation. Let’s start one now!

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After an eight-month deployment in the Persian Gulf, the USS John Stennis picked up the sailors’ family and friends for a six-day cruise from Hawaii to San Diego. NBC’s Miguel Almaguer reports. May 2, 2013

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Search form, staff perspective: tiger cruises and navy families.

Fast-forward 20 years and much has changed with Navy ship deployments.  These days, the deployment dates and most ship movements are no longer public knowledge and OPSEC (operational security) means dates aren’t advertised.  Families only have a general idea when ships will return and it isn’t confirmed until a couple weeks before the ship pulls in.  Port visit dates and locations are subject to change and it is no longer common to see large, organized groups of spouses flying to meet the ships in overseas locations.  Obviously, much has changed in the world and in the post-9/11 military.

Over time, military families have adjusted to these changes and many don’t have first-hand knowledge of how it used to be.  What hasn’t changed is the stress associated with deployments and the anticipation that return from deployments brings.  Every deployment experience is different – where you live, how old your children are, how long the deployment lasts, the amount of support you have in your community.  These are just some of the factors that impact how a family (and a Service member) navigates the time they are separated by a deployment.  Success managing the challenges of a previous deployment doesn’t ensure that the next one will be smooth – they almost never are. 

A few months ago, my husband returned from his most recent deployment.  Just as I have every time before, I told myself “This was the hardest deployment I’ve ever been through.” If I’m honest, I don’t feel like it was actually harder than any other before, but I think I had allowed myself to forget what it’s like because it has been almost five years.  I anticipated that this deployment would be easier because my two sons are now teenagers and more self-sufficient; one of them even drives.  I thought it would be less stressful since I wouldn’t have to find child care if I wanted to go out or have to drive them to soccer games, birthday parties, and play-dates as I had done in the past. 

What I hadn’t fully anticipated was the impact that having their father gone would have on my boys.  They missed him in a way that was somehow different than before.  Even now with the Internet to stay connected, they really missed having him physically present to talk to, help with their homework or go see the newest Star Wars or Marvel movie. (I wouldn’t know a Jedi from an Avenger.)  It was definitely harder than any of us had anticipated and made me regret the ‘been there, done that’ attitude I went into the deployment with.

Towards the end of the deployment, we found out the ship would be hosting a “Tiger Cruise” for friends and family members.  A Tiger Cruise is an opportunity for civilians (with the exception of spouses) to ride a ship the last few days of deployment.  Usually, the ship pulls into a port near their homeport, picks up the “Tigers” and then the families get to experience shipboard life and see what their loved ones do for a couple of days. 

My sons had the opportunity to meet the ship in Mayport, Florida and ride back to the homeport of Norfolk, VA – a short trip only lasting three days and two nights.  When I met the ship in Norfolk, it was amazing to see how meaningful those few days had been for them.  Even though they had lived their whole lives around the Navy, living on military bases and moving every few years, they told me they felt like they really had “no idea” what their father did when he went to the ship every day.  When they got back, they shared with pride what it was like seeing all the Sailors on the ship working together each day.  They couldn’t believe it when they saw the amount of responsibility given to Sailors not much older than they are. It gave them a new perspective on the Navy.  Seeing dolphins following the ship, watching the guns shoot, and having the chance to watch as the ship pulled alongside the oiler to refuel are experiences they’ll never forget.

Something about that experience made our family reunification much smoother.  We didn’t experience the somewhat awkward moments that sometimes occur when reconnecting with a loved one you haven’t seen in many months.  As with every deployment, we were all slightly changed from the experience but this time, my boys felt like they had played a bigger part in supporting their father.  They weren’t simply watching and waiting on the pier, as they had many times before. This time they were on the ship observing the focus, concentration, and teamwork needed to get a 10,000-ton ship safely into port, plus the excitement that comes with returning home from months overseas.

Whether the Tiger is a son, daughter, father, mother, brother, or sister of a Sailor, they all come back with an incredible appreciation of what its like to be at sea, even if only for a few days.  It is almost a cliché among Service members that people who haven’t been on deployment or downrange can’t begin to understand what it is like.  The Navy is probably unique among the services that civilians are able to experience a small piece of the deployment by participating in a Tiger Cruise.

So while Navy ships don’t actually have tigers onboard, if you’re fortunate enough to experience a Tiger Cruise for yourself, it can make the reunification after deployment a whole lot easier and create a special connection that will last a lifetime. 

The opinions in CDP Staff Perspective blogs are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Science or the Department of Defense.

April Thompson, LCSW , is a clinical social worker currently working as a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Trainer at the CDP at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (USU) in Bethesda, Maryland.

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Tiger Cruise 2019

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Video by petty officer 3rd class joseph holbert  , uss john c. stennis (cvn 74).

Friends and family members of U.S. Sailors participate in a Tiger Cruise aboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group (JCSCSG) is deployed in support of maritime security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy video by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph Holbert)

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US Navy Tiger Cruise

A couple years ago, we had an amazingly different cruising experience!  We “sailed” with my US Navy son aboard his ship, the USS Peleliu, back from Pearl Harbor to San Diego!  Here’s the story …

Standing beside my son (no the sailor in the photo is not my son) on the flight deck of the USS PELELIU (LHA-5) as it departed Pearl Harbor, I am a civilian aboard a US Navy Amphibious Assault Ship.  As a Navy mom, I joked that I wanted a tour of his ship.  Now, music plays over the loudspeaker, the wind blows in my face as the tug boats maneuver our ship away from the dock, past the USS Arizona Memorial and toward the brilliant blue of the Pacific Ocean.    The “Mighty Liu” as the Sailors affectionately call the ship, is headed home to San Diego after six long months in the Middle East deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the Global War on Terror.  I am aboard for a Tiger Cruise and although I was unaware, Tiger Cruises have introduced Navy families to their sons’ or daughters’ ships for almost as long as the Navy has had ships. En route from Pearl Harbor to San Diego, we were privileged to witness our US Navy in action, not from a distance or on television, but up close and personal.

Overhead an Air Force C-130 cargo plane landing at Hickam Field drowns out any hope of conversation, leaving everyone on the flight deck to their own thoughts. 

Earlier in the week as we boarded the PELELIU, the ship towered over us.     Entering via a typical steep ladder left me trying to catch my breath.   Stairs became a way of life since the ship has eight levels up and seven levels down.    At the top was the ship’s immense hangar bay.  The massive size made us hesitate, but a welcome display featuring the PELELIU’s motto, “Pax per Potens” – translation, “Peace through Power”, pointed Tigers in the right direction.  We dutifully stood in line at the proper table to receive our “orders” for the cruise and immediately afterward plunged into the maze of narrow gray hallways in search of our living quarters.   Alone in my new “home”, I unpacked my stuff into my sea berth – they weren’t exaggerating when they said I wouldn’t have much room!  Luckily, there’s no formal Captain’s dinner required on this cruise.  Blue jeans, sweatshirts and tennis shoes were the uniform of the week.

Goodbye Pearl Harbor, Hello Pacific Ocean!

All of the ship’s aircraft must be ready to fly on a moment’s notice since the Navy can never anticipate world events that will require immediate action.  Sailors responsible for maintaining the aircraft crawl all over dozens of helicopters and jets.   Swaying precariously from the highest helo blades clinging like spiders in the stiff breeze, they perform necessary maintenance.   The flight deck array includes Huey’s and Cobra attack helicopters, search and rescue helicopters and Marine transport helicopters.  The six AV-8B Harrier attack aircraft – original jump  or vertical take off and landing jets – launched the first Harrier raids over Afghanistan immediately after September 11, 2001.  History comes alive aboard the “Mighty Liu”!

Just prior to the commencement of flight ops (short for flight operations), Tigers were instructed to appear at the forward end of the flight deck for a FOD Walk Down.   Dodging spray from Sailors washing aircraft, we dutifully made our way forward against the intense wind.  No one knew what we were being asked to do, but being good Tigers, we obeyed orders.   Prior to flight ops, the entire carrier deck has to be swept for anything that could inadvertently be sucked up into a jet engine … we formed a solid line across the entire deck and walked the length picking up bits of string, ribbon, paper, rag and other debris.   Now flight ops can commence and the excitement begins!     The noise created by launching multiple helicopters was deafening, reminding me of the sign above the Navy Blue Angels practice field “The Noise You Hear is the Sound of FREEDOM”!    GO NAVY!!!

Little Sleep for Weary Sailors … and ME!

Sleep is difficult underway even without flight ops.    Sailors rarely have a day in which they can actually count on getting eight consecutive hours of sleep.   Their regular jobs, performed during the daylight hours, are supplemented by watch which requires them to be awake at all hours of the night on a rotating schedule.  On days and nights when the seas are rolling the ship through 20 degrees, no one gets any sleep.   As you can imagine, the ship goes through a lot of coffee.    While the Tigers were aboard the crew enjoyed regular meals, plus the addition of  8 PM nachos, pizza or ice cream – similar to a cruise line’s culinary offerings, minus the ice sculptures.  The only thing we didn’t get was a midnight chocolate buffet!

Continual Scheduled Maintenance

Maintenance that could not be performed on the flight deck meant aircraft had to be lowered via elevator into the hangar bay.   The elevators are exterior and precariously descend with their precious aircraft all the while completely exposed to wind and waves.  Earlier in the deployment, the crew enjoyed a well-deserved leisure break for a swim call and “steel beach picnic”.     Led by Captain Marcus Hitchcock, Sailors and Marines plunged 30 feet from the port side elevator to swim in the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea.   Tigers were not invited to go swimming – nothing could have convinced me to JUMP from that port side elevator!  Instead, we feasted on burgers and traditional picnic fare at a “Steel Beach Picnic” held on the flight deck.

Hanger Deck

Compared to all the noise and hustle/bustle on the flight deck, below in the well deck, all is calm.   Wandering among the 25,000 square feet of vehicle space – bigger than 2 football fields laid side by side, it was easy to get lost.  Hummers, Tanks, and Light Armored Vehicles all start to look alike!    All manner of combat vehicles are chained securely and over 100,000 cubic feet of cargo space containing everything Marines will need for immediate deployment sits quietly awaiting the moment they are needed.   Gazing at all this stuff gives us a new appreciation of what this ship does.  Offloading 2,500 Marines plus their entire city has to be a logistical nightmare!  But for now, Sailors and Marines go about their normal jobs.  The well deck houses the 88 foot LCAC, a high speed, over the horizon amphibious landing craft more commonly described as a hovercraft.  Also on the well deck are two 135 foot long LCUs, an updated, larger version of the D-Day beach landing craft.  For the LCUs to depart the well deck, the PELELIU has to literally sink eight feet in the stern so the ocean water comes in. Once afloat, the crew drives the LCU out the back of the ship.

Onboard Entertainment

A variety of shipboard tours organized for the education of Tigers included an adventure down into the hot and steamy propulsion and engine rooms, as well as the bridge where we witnessed firsthand all the navigation, radar, communication and high tech systems utilized.   I thought my little Garmin GPS was fabulous technology until I saw the big ship version! 

To occupy our “extra time,” Tigers were challenged to complete a PQS.  PQS stands for Personnel Qualification Standards and is the method the Navy uses to ensure Sailors are well trained.  The Tiger PQS was designed to familiarize Tigers with the operations and capabilities of our amphibious assault ship home.   Consisting of over 90 questions that not only had to be answered but certified/signed off by Navy Sailors, the PQS looked daunting indeed!  “What do JIC, SSES, SIU, EXPLOT and “Snoopy Team” stand for?”  “What is a P-25?” “Name the rotating radars on the aft mast”, and “How are the ballast tanks filled with water?” are a few examples.  To answer the questions, Tigers visited every department on the ship and asked questions.   My son’s comment as he pinned on our Tiger “SWO” wings, earned by completing the PQS, was “you’ve been places on this ship that a lot of Sailors have never seen!”

Learning “Navy-Speak” was almost as challenging as negotiating the gray maze of hallways aboard … “UNREP will commence at 05:30 and can be viewed from the Level 8 Observation Deck”.    Five thirty AM is definitely not a civilized time of day for me despite having been “in the Navy” for 9 days already.  Not to mention that I had no idea what UNREP was or if it was worth getting up before dawn to witness. Nonetheless 5:15 AM found me watching the bright lights of the Underway Replenishment (UNREP) ship in the darkness draw closer  to the PELELIU.  Watching fuel hoses snake  across the abyss as the two ships danced side by side in the Pacific Ocean waves, we wondered why one day out of San Diego we were getting fuel.  The “Mighty Liu” is required to carry enough fuel at all times to return to the Middle East instantly in case of an emergency.

Warfare Power Demonstrations & An Amazing Airshow!

Camp pendleton, california.

That evening, for the first time in 10 days, the PELELIU was swinging at anchor off Camp Pendleton, California, home for the Marines.  Before dawn the next morning, the daunting task of offloading the Marines began.  Suddenly the well deck was as busy as the flight deck!  Helicopter flights, the LCAC hovercraft and LCUs departed every few minutes ferrying Marines to the beach where families awaited with a celebratory welcome home picnic.

On to San Diego!

After offloading the Marines, the PELELIU was underway again the following morning in a cold, rainy, gray fog.  Nonetheless, the excitement of homecoming overshadowed the chill as the soggy Sailors lined the rails in the Navy tradition.  The ship sailed under San Diego’s Coronado bridge escorted by fire ships streaming fountains of water as helicopters buzzed overhead welcoming the PELELIU back to her home dock.  After being gone for six months, Sailors were happily re-united with families.  My son’s first request on setting foot back on U.S. soil?   “Let’s go get FISH TACOS”!    

Thanks to the US Navy for inviting and encouraging families to join a Tiger Cruise.  Here’s a BIG MOM’S SALUTE to the PELELIU and all the Sailors and Marines!  We THANK you for everything you do and have sacrificed so that we can enjoy freedom in our great country!

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19 comments.

Thank you so much for your posting on your Tiger Cruise! I wish so bad I could go on one! I was in the USN 1987-1991, and at the time I knew I wasn’t going to reenlist so I was kept at my base (SIMA San Francisco at NAS Alameda) until my EAOS, never serving on a ship. Oh hindsight! I wish I could go back and re-up for another four and do just that! The narrative for your Tiger Cruise made it all come alive, almost like I was there. Thank you! Danielle

I was wondering how strict they are on bringing food on board. I was thinking pre packaged protein bars and shakes/powders for special dietary needs when a meal option does not meet dietary needs for the day. Thanks.

Hi Jen — I had some protein bars in my luggage aboard during the cruise. But I never had any problem with finding something to eat in the meals aboard. And I got plenty of exercise walking all over the ship – of course, the USS Peleliu is 843 feet long and something like 8 decks, can’t remember offhand. But it seemed I was always climbing stairs! Enjoy your Tiger Cruise! It was certainly an experience of a lifetime. Although my husband likes to say “It was alot of fun being in the Navy for 10 days … but 10 days was enough.” 🙂 Cheers! Jan

I would like to go on a tiger cruise but I need information and contacts so if there any ships in San Diego I can get on

Hi Arthur! The only way anyone can go on a Tiger Cruise is to be invited by a family member (son or daughter) that’s on a Navy ship. If you have a son or daughter in the Navy and their ship is offering a Tiger Cruise, they’ll have all the details. Good luck! Jan

I am going on the TR Tiger Cruise in Nov 2015. My son asked for my age and Soc Sec number. The next day he said I was on the list. Should I get a confirmation from the Navy? I already booked my flights and room.

We didn’t get a confirmation that I recall, but we did have to fill out medical forms and maybe some other forms. Other than that my son said we were in… seemed odd to me. We didn’t even know for sure where to be to meet the bus to get to the ship, but we made it. Have a great time! We LOVED our Tiger Cruise. Cheers! Jan

[…] US Navy Tiger Cruise – Commuter Cruiser — Info for Part … – A couple years ago, we had an amazingly different cruising experience! We “sailed” with my US Navy son aboard his ship, the USS Peleliu, back from Pearl Harbor to … […]

My Sailor Grandson’s Destroyer is offering a Tiger Cruise and I want to go. He is concerned I might fall. Even though I am 73, I’m strong but have an arthritic knee and wear an elastic brace. His Mom, my daughter, will be going also. How rough is it to walk with the seas rocking the boat?

Hi Mary! With the description you provide, I’d be more concerned about going up & down the ladder stairs even in calm water. If you don’t have trouble climbing a ladder, I’d say you’d be OK. Keep in mind there can be more than one set of stairs getting from floor to floor on a ship. Rough seas are always a wildcard – we only had one day of really rough seas, but you can never predict. Good Luck! Jan

Thanks Jan! I have a Physical next month and will get a Dr. note. Also going to PT and getting help conditioning my body. I really want to go.

I wasn’t aware of the Navy’s Tiger program until I watched an episode of NCIS. I wanted to research, there wasn’t much available, until I came across your well written and vivid post. I appreciate the time you spent on this, I took something from it, as I am sure others will too.

Thanks Mark! The Tiger Cruise is a vivid and very fond memory. I’m glad I can share it with others! Cheers! Jan

Thanks Jan for sharing your Tiger cruise experience. My son has just informed his dad and I about the cruise. We will hopefully be going in January. Thanks for giving us insight.

Hi Sharon! The Tiger Cruise will always be one of my life’s highlights. So amazing to be “in the Navy” for 10 days — that’s long enough for us! ENJOY! Cheers! Jan

Thanks Jan for sharing your experience. My son just informed us this past weekend. We hope to be going when its available. My question for you is can both me and his step-dad go, or is it just one person per family.

Hi Lynda! With our son, David (his step-dad) and I were both able to go. But this was a few years back, so I’m not sure if the rules have changed. It was amazing! 🙂 ENJOY! Jan

Jan, thanks for responding. Was there a cost to do this? And if I read this correct, the cruise from Hawaii to SD was about 9 days?

Hi Lynda! Sorry for the delay in responding. I don’t remember a cost so if there was a cost, it must have been relatively small. I think it was 10 days overall from Pearl Harbor to San Diego – we had to stop in Pendleton and offload the Marine cities and aircraft my son’s boat transported. Cheers! Jan

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The USS Nebraska returns to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Wash., July 11, 2023, after a tiger cruise, where family and friends of the crew saw the capabilities of the ship.

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Tiger Cruise or Family Day Cruise

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Navy Tiger Cruise: For those lucky enough to have the opportunity to sail on a Family Day or Tiger Cruise --- Some tips and helps... and a little bit of bragging too!

Tiger Cruise Aboard a Submarine

by Chris Summers

Mar 12, 2011

Submarine Tiger Cruise by Chris Summers

Rub A Dub Dub, My Trip On A Sub!

I thought I would do a little write up on my trip aboard the USS Nevada, SSBN 773 for anyone interested. My trip began with my flight to San Diego where I have not gone for so many years. I had a 2 day wait until my son's sub was able to "bump the dock" and take on passengers. Interestingly, Trident Subs normally never dock anywhere but at their home base, either Bangor, Washington or Kings Bay, Georgia. It cost around a million dollars each time they do it at other Navy docks as there are many costs involved in meeting the sub when it surfaces and escorting it into port and arranging for local tugs and pilots to get it berthed safely. Also, for security reasons there is a flotilla of escort ships as they approach any port or harbor; a mix of Navy vessels and Coast Guard ships.

I met up with the other Tiger Cruise members about 2 hours before the time we were given for boarding. Most were fathers of sailors, a brother or 2 and one 11 year old boy whose dad was a Senior Chief. We made the usual small talk as we waited, first in a meeting room and later down on the dock. The sub would be picking up extra provisions and there was a general nod of approval when a fork lift delivered fresh produce and about 20 five gallon tubs of hard packed ice cream! Soon the sub was in sight and was being gently pushed along buy 3 huge tug boats. The pilot was up on the bridge (the top of the sail or what you see as the tower that sits on the top of the sub. The captain later told us that the pilot remarked after safely docking the sub that this was his first time with a submarine of that size! The captain was not amused! Speaking of size, the sub is 560 feet long and 46 feet wide at the beam with a vertical draft of 37 feet. It has a crew of 17 Officers, 15 Chief Petty Officers and 122 Enlisted, but multiply that by 2 as there are actually 2 crews, Blue and Gold which swap out after a set time period of shore or sea duty.

So, needless to say the sub is big... REALLY BIG!!! We made our way down the ramp that had been set down from the pier to the ship and then we all walked to the back of the sub and climbed down the ladder in the rear hatch, not like a typical ladder you might use to clean your house rain gutters but very straight with no angle to it which makes it a challenge. We were all taken to the Crew Mess or dining area, there were around 36 of us. There we were welcomed by the Captain and given a safety briefing. Our cell phones were taken up and stored, not that cell phone's get any kind of signal through the thick hull or underwater but because most have a camera or recording application.

Let me diverge here and explain something I did not realize prior to my cruise. The opportunity to go on a Tiger Cruise (the Navy term for a cruise with family members as guests) on a ballistic missile sub is extremely rare. Why? Well, let's just say that if a trident sub was not attached to our navy or the USA and was an independent entity it would be about the 4th largest nuclear armed power in the world! Also, these subs typically get their orders for a sea tour to go somewhere very deep and unseen and sit and listen and wait. Some of the sailors refer to this as "4 knots to nowhere!" There main mission is usually to listen and wait for the message that they hope will never come!

The Nevada had just completed a complete 2 year dry dock overhaul of it's reactor and missile system and had just done a successful test launch of a trident missile. How successful? Well, let's just say that launching a test missile from the waters off of San Diego to a spot in the Pacific ocean over 4000 miles away on the far other side of Hawaii and hitting a target area the size of a baseball diamond defines it as successful!

After our initial welcome we were shown the rooms where we would be bunking together. Each room is around 10 x 12 feet and sleeps 9 in 3 sets of bunks. All the bunks are about the size of a camp cot, about 24 inches wide, barely 6 feet long and there is only about 28 inches between the mattress and the bottom of the bunk above or the ceiling in the case of the top bunk. I was assigned a top bunk and as I stared at it wondering how I would get my body up there I realized that the middle bunk just below was not occupied as one cruise member was not able to make it. I got permission to move and even so it was a bit of a hike to get up into it or reach the floor when I needed to get out. There was a small closet and a set of drawers for each occupant. The room was chilly as was most of the sub; we were told that it helps keep the sweat down, something that makes sense when you confine 136 or so individuals in a small space! Each bunk had a curtain to give privacy and also make the bunk area dark as many sleep on different shifts. There is also a thin storage pan under each bunk and a small lockable box within the bunking area for valuables.

I was not able to meet up with my son, Colin until much later that day as he had been on watch in the Engineering area which was off limits to all cruise participants as well as the radio room and the nuclear reactor area. Other than those areas we had complete access to all areas of the sub, something that will not be possible once the ship has it's payload of 24 missiles aboard! All of the cruise participants were given a welcome packet with a list of things we were asked to do in order to qualify as an honorary submariner and earn our Dolphin Pin at the end of the voyage. It reminded me of when my boys were in Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts and working on the next rank or a merit badge. It consisted of lots of items like visiting different areas of the sub and interviewing the sailors who were working in each area and finding out what they did. That was actually a lot of fun and all of the submariners were eager to explain to us what they did and also do demonstrations of group activities like fire fighting which is very important on a submarine! On most surface ships there are designated jobs for different sailors and if a fire breaks out the occupants of an area evacuate so the fire fighting team can do there job; but, on a sub, everyone is a fire fighter or a leak fixer of whatever! And most have 2 jobs; an area of expertise as well as a duty position, like holding a watch in the Command room. For instance, the Lieutenant who was the supply officer and responsible for securing all supplies and provisions also was a Dive Officer and had a 6 hour watch where he oversaw the helmsman who controlled the rudder and the sailor who controlled the planes that effect depth.

Meals are served 4 times a day because there are always men who are up and around, even in the middle of the night. Breakfast was from 5 to 6 AM, lunch from 11am to 12 pm, dinner from 5-6pm and Middies (the midnight meal) from 11pm to 12am. We were asked to allow those going on watch to get to eat first as they had to go to a pre-watch planning session and the Mess only held about 50 or so. I have to say that I was quite amazed by the overall quality of the food and the generous portions served. The meals were a bit heavy on meats and starchy carbs as well as a sweet dessert, sodas or energy drinks and plenty of coffee, but these young guys burn calories a bit faster then we old ones, I guess. There were always 2 choices for an entree, beef and chicken, pork and fish, etc. A starch as well as some vegetable; the frozen were far better then the canned stuff. There was also a salad bar area with lettuce and an assortment of other basic salad items. Desserts ranged from fresh baked pies to cakes and often had the hard packed ice cream which was more of a treat because of our presence on the cruise I was told. I only ate in the Crew Mess a few times as I was invited to dine in the officer's Ward Room since my son is a Lieutenant. Meals there were a bit more formal although breakfast was the most informal as not everyone attends. As we entered and sat for breakfast, a sailor in chef's uniform came to take our order; I typically chose an omelet with the usual sides like bacon or sausage or hash browns. It was my big protein start to my day and I usually had a few cups of coffee which actually was not bad! Lunch and dinner were more formal with the Captain at the head of the table and officers and their guests seated. There were seats for 12 or so and once again the first to dine were the officers who would go on watch after the meal. The server always came in and announced the meal items and then asked if anyone wanted soup. If you did not you were to place your spoon in the empty soup bowl and it was taken away and the soup was served. As was to be expected, no one ate until the Captain took his first bite. I usually got a salad from the special salad bar that was set up after my soup and then the main dishes were passed around family style and you could pretty much take whatever you liked. The officers seemed to genuinely enjoy the casual time and there were plenty of jokes and funny stories about what may have transpired that day. The general rule was that only the Engineering Officer could discuss any business with the Captain. If anyone had to be excused to go on watch they stood up and addressed the Captain with a polite, “Excuse me, Captain.” I changed it up a bit when I would leave by asking to be excused but also thanking the Captain for inviting me to dine. There were also some amusing rules in the Ward Room such as if 2 officers were present who had to leave early for their watches they could invoke “the dessert rule,” which meant they could have their dessert before the others, including the Captain, were served. There was also a rule that if the Engineering Officer made a late entrance after the door was shut he had to do something called the Periscope Dance, which I never did get to see. I never did sit down to eat at midnight but I was told it was mixture of leftovers as well as some comfort foods fixed in smaller batches. On Saturday, pizzas were made in the galley and served continuously from 8pm to 10pm and a movie was shown in the mess. All the crusts had been freshly made and pre-baked by the chef earlier that day, quite a feat in such a small kitchen with only 2 ovens!

The bathrooms were near the bunking area and had several toilets, sinks and 2 showers. I tended to get up to shower before breakfast and beat the rush so I was up at 4am or so each day. Each day we met with members of the crew and discovered what they did. Areas like sonar, navigation, missile guidance and torpedo launching as well as all of the positions in the busy Com room where the Officer of the Deck was in control. Technology may have changed many things on a Navy ship but some things have not. The OOD typically gives out commands or asks for data and the officer or enlisted man in that area repeats the request with an Aye at the end and responds as they fulfill the command. With all of the Tiger Cruise guests on board it could get quite crowed in this area but the crew was great about allowing us to be there and intermingle. I found a small stool next to the Quarter Master (which is the name for the sailor in charge of keeping track of the course on the charts). I enjoyed watching them as I have always liked maps and navigation. I also enjoyed spending time in the Sonar room where 3 to 4 sailors spent their shifts staring at computer screens with green and black dots and shapes slowly dropping room the top to the bottom of the screen, sort of like that scene in the movie, The Matrix with lines of code going by. They also listen to sounds on headphones and they explained what they heard to me and let me listen. “Biologics” as they call them are fish or dolphins or whales or even the clicking sound that shrimp make as they move through the water. Then there were the sounds of other ships moving above on the surface which made a mechanical noise like the sound of a train clicking along as it goes down the tracks or the “Wub Wub Wub Wub” of a ship's propeller or “screw” slowly turning. The sonar operators could even tell how many blades a ship had by counting the beats out in a cycle! We were treated to special activities like actually firing a torpedo known as a Green Zinger which was the term for an empty torpedo chamber that was filled with water and fired out as a water slug. It was kind of like when you flush the toilet on a passenger plane and you hear the loud “WOOSH”; but, on the sub there was also a blast of cold vapor that actually came out of the breach seal at the back of the tube. The pressure created by the water slug firing also made your ears pop no matter where you were on the sub! I also got to launch a make believe Trident missile at Country Bravo who was some sort of enemy of ours.

Once while a few of us were out exploring the decks we came upon the ordinance specialists busy taking out the tracking controls for the second of the 2 test missiles they had taken on this cruise. This was the back up missile in case something failed on the first one that was launched. It was amazing to climb up to the hatch at the nose cone of the missile and see the various parts of what would be a huge nuclear warhead after the ship loads out later this month. Such destructive power in a very small package... I also had a fair amount of private time where I could just go walking around or just have some quite time to read. I had purchased a Nook electronic pad reading device just before my trip and downloaded several books to read as well as taking along an iTunes device with some music to listen to. My favorite place to relax was on the top deck in between missile tubes 14 and 16 where there was a comfy spot to lean back on and curl up between the pipes, valves and connections that would be used if the ship ever has to fire it's payload. Seemed kind of ironic that s a place of such solitude could be so close to weapons of mass destruction.

On the second to last day as we made our approach up the coast of Washington, the sub did several interesting maneuvers. They did a deep dive which I am only authorized to say was to 700 feet below the surface but you can venture a guess that we were a bit deeper! We also did what is know as “Angles and Dangles” where the sub goes from a 600 to 200 foot depth and back and increases in dive angle from 15 to 20 to 25 degrees. All I can say is that 25 degrees is pretty darn steep and you better hope they don't ever have to do it when you are in your bunk or you might end up on the floor! On the final day we made our way into the Straits of Juan de Fuca and the sub finally surfaced within the small flotilla of escort ships. The weather was fantastic and we all took turns ascending to the the bridge up at the top of the ladders that go from the Com to the Sail. A dependent's cruise was planed where we were supposed to leave the sub as dependents came aboard, mostly wives, mother's and other family members of the crew. The captain decided to just save time with the transfer and just take on the dependents and let us all stay on as the sub made its way into Puget Sound and down to the Hood Canal and into the Navy base. It was well past 6pm when we finally made our way off of the sub after thanking the crew and the officers.

One of the things I did that was rather unexpected was to ask the Quarter Master as he plotted our course into the final stage of the voyage if I could have a chart and get signatures of the crew. We used to do this when I took Boy Scout crews to Philmont in New Mexico by having everyone sign off on a picture of Mt Baldy. Anyway the QM said he had some smaller low security charts and for about the last 2 hours I spent my time covering the submarine and getting signatures. Many of the sailors were rather surprised but liked the idea and many wrote me special notes as a memory of my voyage. The best one was from my son, Colin who said the nicest things. I can only say that I had a huge sense of paternal pride as I watched him as OOD giving out orders or interacting with the crew. I have a new appreciation for what he does and also for all of these men who make great sacrifices to be away from their families and live a most dangerous life under the sea and stay vigilant to protect us and our nation.

The motto and cheer of the ship is “Battle Ready! Battle Born!” and when they shout it they shout it loudly. My thanks goes out to all of them and to my son for inviting me to come along and see what he does. Please keep these fine men in your thoughts and prayers. Feel free to ask any questions or make comments on this note. I will also post photos that were given to us of our cruise or that have been published about the Nevada.

Trip report from my Tiger Cruise aboard the USS Nevada, SSBN 733 upon completion of their DOSA test launch deployment

Back to Tiger Cruise Group

NavyDads Admin (Paul)

Scott Henry

This was the very last time I went underway on a submarine.

Apr 10, 2017

TrendyDigests

The U.S. Navy Decided Not To Pursue The Super F-14 Tomcat Due To Concerns Over Cost Outweighing The Potential Capabilities It Would Provide

Posted: April 30, 2024 | Last updated: May 2, 2024

In the wake of cinematic revivals and nostalgia, the legacy of the F-14 Tomcat has resurfaced, prompting discussions among military enthusiasts and aviation experts.

The iconic fighter, a mainstay of the U.S. Navy's aerial fleet from its introduction in the 1970s until its retirement in 2006.

The F-14 was equipped with variable-geometry wings that adjusted automatically for optimal performance at various speeds and altitudes.

The Super Tomcat, conceived as a modernized version of the venerable F-14, promised substantial improvements.

The removal of the maintenance-intensive "glove vanes" and the addition of enlarged aerodynamic gloves would have enhanced supersonic handling and maneuverability while providing additional fuel capacity for extended range.

The potential upgrades also included state-of-the-art avionics, a full glass cockpit, a wide-angle Heads Up Display (HUD) capable of projecting imagery from navigational FLIR pods, and an updated radar system.

Furthermore, the proposed Super Tomcat would have boasted an impressive thrust-vectoring capability, potentially making it the most agile fighter of its era.

With upgraded GE-F110-129 turbofan engines, the Super Tomcat 21 would have been able to super-cruise or fly at supersonic speeds without the use of its afterburner, at a sustained jaw-dropping Mach 1.3.

The AST21 was largely a continuation of the ST21 design, with additional bomb-carrying pylons, a modified radar system with a Forward Air Controller (FAC) mode, an Integrated Defensive Avionics Package (IDAP), and nuclear weapons carrying capabilities.

Despite these tantalizing features, the Navy's rejection of the Super Tomcat centered on the financial implications and practical considerations.

The F-14, while a distinguished aircraft, had already been in service for over two decades, and the cost of implementing the comprehensive upgrades was significant.

Moreover, the Navy was in need of an aircraft that could fulfill multiple roles without the high maintenance and operational costs associated with the aging Tomcat.

The F/A-18 Super Hornet emerged as the more pragmatic choice.

It was seen as a "jack of all trades, master of none," dependable, and with a proven combat record.

The Super Hornet did not match the F-14's range or raw power but offered a blend of attributes that aligned with the Navy's budgetary constraints and strategic imperatives.

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